What does “granulomatous mastitis” mean?
Disease description:
Last night, while changing clothes, I noticed that the tissue under my armpit had become increasingly prominent. I was subsequently diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis. What does this mean?
Granulomatous mastitis—also referred to simply as granulomatous breast inflammation—is a chronic inflammatory condition of the breast. When this disease occurs, patients typically present with a palpable breast mass accompanied by erythema, swelling, and pain; the lesion often lacks clear demarcation from surrounding tissues. The disease progresses rapidly—abscess formation may occur within several days, followed by spontaneous rupture and prolonged non-healing. This condition predominantly affects young women and is frequently misdiagnosed.